W says there will be no draft
In the last debate, the question of a ‘back door draft’ was raised again. John Kerry alleges that enlistments are extended as ’stop loss’ policies designed to keep troop levels steady prevent troops from leaving the armed services when their enlistment period is over and that the possibility of a draft under W is likely.
George W Bush said then, and continues to say, that there will be no draft. The all volunteer army will remain all volunteer. There was even a symbolic vote to reinstate the draft - it failed.
On my 18th birthday I did two things; registered to vote and for Selective Service. If you are not familiar with the term Selective Service you are:
- female
- not a US citizen
- under 18
- any or all of the above
Men, 18 to 25 are required to register for selective service. Selective Service is essentially a method to track your life and whereabouts in case a draft is implimented and to prosecute men for not updating their address when they move.
If you really want to convince me that the all volunteer army is the only army we need, disband the Selective Service. This agency has outlived its usefulness and only serves to cloud those several years of a young man’s life, especially when we go to war. If the cause is ‘just’ and ‘right’ we should have no need for a draft as volunteers will be lined up to serve.
I personally watched in fear as we went to war with Iraq during Desert Storm and breathed a sigh of relief on my 25th birthday. I have not been convinced that the draft will not return, and just saying it doesn’t make it so - WMD anyone?
